Canada gets its game on! CBC Sports, ParticipACTION and True Sport present second annual Sports Day in Canada

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Canadians of all ages are encouraged to
celebrate sport, get active and participate in the second annual Sports Day in Canada, taking place this Saturday, September 17. The exciting, day-long
celebration will cap off a week of local sporting events showcasing the
power of sport at all levels in communities across Canada. CBC will
carry all the festivities during a six-hour television and online
broadcast starting at noon EST.

"The Government of Canada proudly supports the spirit of Sports Day in
Canada - an active-living intiative bringing Canadians together in
celebration of sport in their communities," said the Honourable Bal
Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "Sports Day in Canada encourages
sport participation at all levels, while promoting active, healthy
communities.I applaud ParticipACTION, CBC Sports and True Sport for
organizing this exciting initiative.

One of the goals of Sports Day in Canada is to get more Canadians embracing physical activity and the power of
sport. While Canadians love supporting their athletes and teams,
research shows that participation in sport and physical activity has
declined in recent years. According to the Canadian Health Measures
Survey released earlier this year, only 15 per cent of Canadian adults
get the recommended levels of moderate- to vigorous-physical activity
per week1 and only seven per cent of children and youth (aged 5 to 17) get the
recommended 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-physical activity each
day.2

"We want to inspire Canadians to be more active, and sport does just
that by getting people moving and engaged with others. Its language
crosses barriers, making sport accessible to everyone," says Kelly
Murumets, President and CEO, ParticipACTION. "Sports Day in Canada provides an opportunity to showcase a passion and love of sport - and
we encourage all Canadians to celebrate with us on September 17."

In the week leading up to and including September 17, sport
organizations, teams and clubs are hosting a blitz of Sports Day in Canada events, some of which will be attended by Olympians and Paralympians
including Team Visa athletes, coaches and national-level athletes. From
competitions and tournaments to meet-and-greets and try-it days, local
sporting organizations and schools are opening their doors to
Canadians, welcoming everyone in the community to participate,
celebrate and highlight the power and importance of sport and physical
activity in our daily lives.

"Sports Day in Canada is a terrific way to inspire Canadians to embrace
sport and highlight the positive power of sport in every community
across our nation," said Karri Dawson, Director, True Sport. "To
unleash the positive power of sport we need to ensure a good sport
experience; one that is fun, fair, inclusive and promotes personal
excellence."

Canadians can also show their love and support for sport on September
16, national Jersey Day, by wearinga jersey, team or club uniform to school, work or play.

"Sport has dominated the majority of my life and the lessons it has
taught me are invaluable," says Hayley Wickenheiser, three-time Olympic
gold medalist, Canadian Women's Hockey team. "Supporting Canadian
sport, in any way, from wearing a jersey, skipping rope or skating in
your local rink in the off-season will help carry the message that
anyone can participate and be active. Sport isn't seasonal; it's a part
of daily life."

The CBC is the official broadcast sponsor of Sports Day in Canada and will celebrate this day of sport by profiling inspirational tales
of Canadians and communities and showcase teams, organizations and
clubs, both professional and amateur events, live, from several cities
across the nation.

"CBC takes pride in telling stories that resonate across the country.
Programs like Hockey Day and Sports Day provide an opportunity to tell
a great local story to a large National audience," says Chris Irwin,
Executive Producer of Sports Programming. "It is great working with
True Sport and ParticipACTION again this year as we share the belief
that sport builds communities, inspires people and keeps us all moving
forward."

Get involved!

Visit http://sportsday.cbc.ca/ to watch Sports Day stories and videos or to search for or register
related events in your area. Be on the lookout for elite athletes,
politicians, Paralympians and Olympians who will make special
appearances at some Sports Day in Canada events across the country

Wear a jersey, team or club uniform to work, school or play on Friday,
September 16 to celebrate national Jersey Day and show your support for
sport

Download the "Game On" App from itunes so you can "check" into events,
earn badges for your profile and win Sports Day prizes if you top the
weekly leader-board in September

Canadians on-air and online

Sports Day in Canada on CBC will begin broadcast at Noon ET/ 9am PT, September 17. Online
coverage includes live streaming of the broadcast at
cbcsports.ca/sportday. Gemini Award-winning host of CBC Sports Weekend
Scott Russell will host the day live from Calgary, Alberta at Canada's
Sports Hall of Fame. The six-hour broadcast will include live coverage
of the Canada Rugby League Colonial Cup with Canada versus the United
States in Markham, Ontario, the St. Mary's University versus Université
de Montreal football game in Montreal, QC, and Championship five pin
bowling with an East versus West final in Calgary, AB.

Features and community sporting events profiled in the September 17 CBC
broadcasts will include:

Toronto, ON- A showcase of competitive and recreational gymnastics in the city's
Distillery District with Gymnastics Canada

Montreal, QC - The top 16 male and female short-track speed skaters compete for the
chance to represent Canada on the ISU World Cup Circuit

Prince George, BC -Sportz Xtravaganza - a free event for families to try different
sports, including a selection of 2015 Canada Winter Games sports

About ParticipACTION

ParticipACTION is the national voice of physical activity and sport
participation in Canada. Originally established in 1971, ParticipACTION
was re-launched in 2007 to help prevent the looming inactivity and
obesity crisis that faces Canada. As a national not-for-profit
organization solely dedicated to inspiring and supporting healthy and
active living for Canadians, it works with its partners, which include
sport, physical activity, recreation organizations, government and
corporate sponsors, to inspire and support Canadians to move more.
ParticipACTION is generously supported by Sport Canada and the Public
Health Agency of Canada. For more information, visit www.participACTION.com.

About True Sport

True Sport is Canada's national movement for sport and community. Its
goal is to help sport live up to its full potential as a public asset
for Canada and Canadian society, making a significant contribution to
the development of youth, the wellbeing of individuals, and quality of
life in our communities. You can join True Sport at www.truesport.ca.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its
largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching
Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio,
television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in
the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer
diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight
Aboriginal languages.

For a list of other local events taking place across the country, please
visit http://sportsday.cbc.ca/. To download a fact sheet, please visit www.participACTION.com. For more information on Sports Day in Canada or to speak to a spokesperson, please contact: